King Angel Care Guide
Holacanthus passer is an Eastern Pacific marine angelfish ranging from the Gulf of California to Peru, listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Holacanthus passer, the King angel, is a marine angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae, described by Valenciennes in 1846. It occurs in the Eastern Pacific from the Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. FishBase records a maximum total length of about 35.6 cm. Adults are mostly dark with a vertical light bar; juveniles are orange-yellow.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pomacanthidae
- Genus: Holacanthus
- Scientific name: Holacanthus passer
- Described by: Valenciennes, 1846
Habitat
The species is reef-associated and non-migratory, found on rocky tropical reefs at depths of about 4-30 m, often in crevices of large rocks. It occupies the middle and bottom of the water column and favours sea walls and isolated boulders.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 1500 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Lifespan: 15-20 years
- Water type: marine (saltwater)
Diet
It is a diurnal grazer specialising in sponges, alongside other sessile invertebrates, zooplankton and benthic microalgae. In the Mexican Pacific it has been reported to consume up to 23 of 24 local sponge species. Juveniles also exhibit cleaning behaviour toward other fishes.
Compatibility
A large semi-aggressive angelfish that is not reef-safe; sponges and soft corals are at risk. The species is monogamous and pairs occupy home ranges. Other large angels are best avoided, while robust tankmates such as triggers, large wrasses and tangs suit very large systems.
Breeding
Holacanthus passer is oviparous and monogamous; according to FishBase, pairs spawn daily throughout the lunar cycle, with reproduction occurring in late summer. Protogyny has been proposed but awaits confirmation.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2009). The species is used in commercial fisheries and the aquarium trade; Mexico granted it special protection status in 1996 in response to overfishing.
Holacanthus passer (King Angelfish): Breeding Guide
Overview
Holacanthus passer is a large Pomacanthidae angelfish of the Eastern Pacific, ranging from the Gulf of California to Peru including the Galapagos Islands. FishBase records a maximum of about 35.6 cm and a depth range of 4 to 30 m. Adults graze on sessile invertebrates, specialising on sponges, with juveniles showing cleaning behaviour.
Sexing
FishBase notes protogyny has been proposed for this species but awaits confirmation, and describes both facultative and social monogamy. Reliable visual sexing is not documented; functional pairs are identified by behaviour.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
FishBase reports that pairs spawn daily throughout the lunar cycle and do not defend an exclusive territory. Spawning is a pelagic broadcast event releasing eggs and milt into open water, consistent with the genus.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs and larvae are planktonic. Reef Builders reports that Bali Aquarich spawned and raised H. passer in captivity, calling it the first for the species and second for the genus; broodstock pairs of passer and clarionensis were held in the same water body, each already pair-bonded to its own kind, and juveniles were photographed one month post-settlement.
Common Challenges
Even at fingerling size the species shows the intraspecific aggression typical of large angels, with light sparring reported despite ample space. Combined with pelagic larvae that need hatchery plankton culture, this restricts breeding to specialist aquaculture rather than home aquariums.